Welcome back to the exciting adventures of Chase Cooder - Bush Pilot! In this episode Chase and Box confront the killers, discover clues about nefarious deeds, and more!
But before we depart I must tell you that this is a special submission. I'm sad to say one of the characters did not want to have sex; they told me it just wasn't right for them or the tale. However, dear readers, fear not! As you might imagine by the story category, I've arranged something special for you. That's right! At the end of the chapter is the deleted sex scene for your pleasure and amusement.
Please read the chapter, then vote and comment, then return to the deleted scene if you wish. Ready? Climb aboard, buckle up and enjoy the ride!
*****
Chase and Box slept in a tent at the base of a tall cliff. Eons ago someone, or something, had inexplicably hollowed out the inside of the mountain to create a pyramid-shaped cavern. The bases of the walls of the cavern were precisely three hundred and fourteen feet, as was the height at the apex. Curious symbols and geometric shapes surrounded the entrance and continued throughout the long entrance passageway.
Thieves had entered the camp, killed workers and stolen artifacts, including an orb with special properties. They had also kidnapped Anna from Snapper Lake Lodge. Chase and Box were on their trail.
***
The sun rose over the eastern edge of the mountain and suffused light flowed into the tent, waking Chase and Box. Chase yawned, stretched and climbed out of his sleeping bag.
"Get your ass up, big man. Time to saddle up."
"Awww, I wanted to sleep in today, then have breakfast in bed," Box said, rolling out of his bag.
"Yeah, yeah."
Chase broke camp and stowed their gear on the four wheelers while Box strolled off to get coffee from the mess tent. Box returned with a couple of cinnamon raisin bagels and handed one to Chase along with a cup of steaming coffee, black, no sugar.
"Zizi said they came into camp and left the camp from different directions. When they left she saw one guy circling around to the west, so that's the direction to start. We should be able to pick up their trail," Chase thought out loud.
Box was about to respond when they heard a distant gunshot followed by a faint scream. Chase snapped his head around and looked at Box.
"Ruane!"
***
"It's good to see you again, Ruane. If I were forty years younger I just might steal you away from Chase," Willie teased, setting a glass of sweetened ice tea on the table next to her laptop computer.
Ruane leaned forward, her forearms close together on the table, her upper arms pressing her breasts together, emphasizing them.
"I don't belong to Chase, Willie. I'm my own woman.
I
decide who I take into my body. And I bet you could show a girl a
real
good time," she said in a husky voice while batting her lashes.
"Help me, Lord Jesus. You're gonna give me a heart attack, young lady," he laughed, putting his hand over his heart and faking a backward stumble. "Besides, ain't no secret to me who's got your heart."
"Please tell me I'm not
that
obvious! But, maybe someday, Willie. Maybe someday. Thanks for the tea."
"Naw, I've just known you a long time is all. And sooner better than later, I hope. My pleasure on the tea. You holler if you need anything else," Willie said and left Ruane alone in the private dining room.
She turned her attention to her laptop. Ruane was gathering information about Anna, hoping it would help in their search for her. Anna Preston was well educated, having attended private schools through the university level, ultimately earning an MBA. But she hadn't joined her siblings in the family media business. Anna followed her own path through a variety of volunteer and environmental groups.
Ruane sipped her tea, stood and left through a side door to go to the bathroom. A man passed her in the hallway and entered the private dining room as though using it as a shortcut to the great room. As he passed her chair he poured the clear liquid contents of a small capsule into her tea.
Ruane returned, sat down, and resumed her research. She sipped her tea and googled Parker Dill. She discovered Parker was a world renowned symbologist. Reading other links about Parker she discovered he had won a Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work that led to the eventual decoding of ancient runes, which resulted in a fundamental revision regarding the understanding of an ancient culture. She also learned that his sister died about a year ago while being treated for migraines.
Ruane grew drowsy, yawned and stretched. She gathered her computer and papers and went to her room to take a short nap.
Unseen by others, the man slipped into her room, carried her down a seldom used back hallway to the rear of the lodge, placed her into a waiting Range Rover and drove away.
***
Chase set the MP5 for three shot bursts and secured it in the quick release clip on the handle bar of the four wheeler. Box geared up, the same as Chase did.
Chase's Glock 19 was holstered at his side. Box liked the SIG-Sauer P-226. Chase preferred the Glock because it was lighter and held two more rounds in the clip. Given Box's habit of carrying far more ammunition than likely to be needed, he teased his friend about that from time to time.
They jumped onto the four wheelers and sped across the camp toward the sound of the gunshot and scream. As they passed, Zizi's eyes followed Box as she sipped her coffee. A small upward curl formed at a corner of her mouth.
***
Dirk stood next to the open tailgate of one of the Range Rovers, looking at the objects inside. "Dill. Over here," he barked.
Parker walked over to the vehicle, taking short, awkward steps because of the rope tied to his legs. He stopped, but didn't say anything to Dirk.
"What can you tell me about this?" he asked, placing the orb in Parker's hand.
"What is it?"
"Those symbols. The markings. What do they mean?"
Parker peered at the orb, turned it in his hands, this way, then that, awkward because his wrists were tied together. It was a fascinating object. The orb was silver, not shiny, but had a dull sheen. It was about the size of a softball or coconut, maybe a little larger, very light and densely covered with intricate shapes and symbols, many of which he had seen before in his research and travels around the world.
"I can't say. I'd have to study it and do some research. Some of these are simple geometric shapes. A variety of polyhedrons...." Parker's voice tapered off and he mumbled to himself. "...symbolic progression...four-dimensional polyhedra...fire, earth, air, water, ether...harmonic divisions...infinity...fractals...space filling curves. This is quite extraordinary!" he exclaimed, finally looking up at Dirk. "What is it?"
The mercenary's mouth twisted into a sneer. He slowly pulled his pistol out of its holster and shot Parker in the stomach. The round went through the lower left side of his abdomen, both entry and exit holes small. Parker grunted. As the wounded man dropped to his knees Dirk plucked the orb from his hands.
Ruane was sitting with Anna. Her legs were hobbled and her hands bound in front. The last thing she recalled before waking in the Range Rover was lying down in her room to take a nap. The merc who had drugged and kidnapped her had explained she was added insurance against Chase and Box. When the gun went off Ruane screamed, not out of fear, but on the outside chance that Chase and Box were within range and would hear her.
Parker was breathing hard, sweat beading out on his brow. His face contorted in pain. Dirk leaned down and cradled the orb next to Parker's wound. "You'll be fine, Professor. Just wait and see."
Several minutes passed, during which time Parker's breathing eased. His face relaxed. He looked up at Dirk, at his humorless smile. Parker stood. He raised his shirt and looked at his stomach. There was a small angry red mark. He looked at Dirk with amazement.
"That's right. Incredible, isn't it? Have you connected the dots yet, Dill?"
Dirk looked to the northwest. He sensed it before it registered, the soft whops of an approaching helicopter.
